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Thursday, September 9, 2010

On Saturday, September 18th, Sylvan Heights will be hosting the first Birds of the Roanoke Valley symposium. Co-sponsored by the Halifax County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Medoc Mountain State Park and Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park, the symposium is being held to teach the public more about birding opportunities here and across the state. The Roanoke River region is one of the premier birding destinations in North Carolina.

The day will begin at 9 a.m. with a symposium of birding, wildlife and habitat experts from across North Carolina, including such representatives as The Nature Conservancy-Roanoke River Project, Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge, Carolina Bird Club, Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park, Medoc Mountain State Park, Roanoke Canal Trail, and featuring the Carolina Raptor Center in Charlotte, NC.

Following the symposium Q & A session, lunch will be provided in the Sylvan Heights Golden Leaf Room, sponsored by the Halifax County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Birds of the Roanoke Valley attendees will then be invited for a complimentary guided tour of Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park with paid park admission.

That evening Medoc Mountain State Park will host a Hike into the Night, as part of the Birds of the Roanoke Valley celebration. Check out the sights and sounds of the wildlife that come out at night in Medoc Mountain State Park’s pine and hardwood forest and learn a little bit about identifying who is making those sounds. A park ranger will meet the group for a guided trip leaving from the picnic shelter at 9 p.m. Bring a flashlight with fresh batteries and walking shoes.

On Sunday morning an optional one-hour Roanoke River cruise by pontoon boat with Roanoke River Rentals & Guides will be available at 10 a.m. for an additional charge - $10 for adults, $5 ages 10 & up, free to those 10 & younger.

There are only 50 spots available for the Birds of the Roanoke Valley symposium and fewer than that for the hike and river cruise. Please RSVP with your plans for the symposium, guided tour, hike and/or river cruise by Monday, September 13, to Christina Gordon, Halifax County CVB, at 800-522-4282, 252-519-2603 or cgordon@visithalifax.com. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .